IT Guys - Need to upgrade a hard drive

Nt_loader · 08-29-2012, 06:36 PM

I have a laptop with a 64gb hard drive, as you can imagine I have very little room left. I purchased a 128gb SSD the other day with the intent to install it tomorrow.

What is the most simple way for me to transfer everything over? I know I can use the windows profile transfer but im not sure if that will move programs. I looked at a few cloning programs but im not sure if they will work with different drive sizes.

Im open to suggestions and recommendations, what is your method for replacing/upgrading hard drives?

braymond141 · 08-29-2012, 07:30 PM

HDClone is excellent, simple, and fast. http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html

I hope you're not using XP with that solid state though.

mcygan67 · 08-29-2012, 07:48 PM

If you are using Windows and has been for a few years, it may be worth while to do a fresh install as the Windows' registry would, by now, be really messy and you will find a fresh install will improve performance.

Nt_loader · 08-29-2012, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by braymond141

HDClone is excellent, simple, and fast. http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html

I hope you're not using XP with that solid state though.

Im using Windows 7, I was also looking at clonezilla.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcygan67

If you are using Windows and has been for a few years, it may be worth while to do a fresh install as the Windows' registry would, by now, be really messy and you will find a fresh install will improve performance.

Good point, I may actually do just that. I just dont want to install the 20+ apps I have installed.

Zell · 08-29-2012, 08:02 PM

Winclone. It's an amazing tool. I use it for backups all the time, but it also does drive cloning. It's extremely fast. I'm talking, high compression, 90GB worth of stuff backed up wirelessly to my server in 1.5 hours.

http://twocanoes.com/winclone/

scott0482 · 08-29-2012, 08:08 PM

You also have to (probably should) align the SSD if you clone it from a standard hard drive..

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...alignment.html

braymond141 · 08-29-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nt_loader

Im using Windows 7, I was also looking at clonezilla.

.

Good good. Make sure you are using updated AHCI drivers that better support TRIM for SSDs. http://www.station-drivers.com/telec...ivers.com).exe Alignment is up to you, but not needed.

Additionally, with a modern computer it really isn't necessary to do a clean install for "speed". There is very little to be gained if you already have a clean working OS/Program setup.

MachRc · 08-29-2012, 08:28 PM

you will be disappointed with realizing sata2's sub 300mb read and write compared to sata3's 500-600mb read and write. BUt it wont matter because it will still be blazing fast.

HDclone or you can go oldschool like norton ghost.

you might not have to ahci since the laptop prob doesn't support sata3 but i guess I would do it anyways even though there are very little gains over regular ide.

just picked up third vertex4 240)something) 120 wasnt cutting it.

braymond141 · 08-29-2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MachRc

you will be disappointed with realizing sata2's sub 300mb read and write compared to sata3's 500-600mb read and write. BUt it wont matter because it will still be blazing fast.

HDclone or you can go oldschool like norton ghost.

you might not have to ahci since the laptop prob doesn't support sata3 but i guess I would do it anyways even though there are very little gains over regular ide.

just picked up third vertex4 240)something) 120 wasnt cutting it.

Current laptops support SATA3 natively. I wouldn't assume NT has something too old... as far as I remember he's quite into the software side of technology.

For proper TRIM support the bios must be set to AHCI. IDE will kill off your SSD.

The indilinx controllers are too slow in my opinion. Whether or not the new drives have insane IOP's, they feel slower than the Agility/Vertex 3 series (which have finally been solid for awhile now). As buggy as the Sandforce controllers are... when the firmware is right, they are extremely fast. Maybe the indilinx will gain in speed, but I was not impressed with them... even in RAID 0 they were slow.

Nt_loader · 08-29-2012, 08:41 PM

Ok I forgot to mention the hard drive is encypted with truecrypt, I wonder if I will need to un-install it before make a clone of it.

braymond141 · 08-29-2012, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nt_loader

Ok I forgot to mention the hard drive is encypted with truecrypt, I wonder if I will need to un-install it before make a clone of it.

Yes, you probably will have to.

Green_Shine · 08-29-2012, 08:52 PM

Reinstall windows and then robocopy

Nt_loader · 08-30-2012, 09:35 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions, here is what I am doing.

Purchased a Micro Sata SSD to USB connector from Fry's first thing this morning. I am using HD Clone to copy over the smaller hard drive to the new drive, I didnt remove the encryption as a test to see if it will actually work.

I will post back the results when im done

Nt_loader · 08-30-2012, 10:21 AM

Well that didnt work, removing the encryption now and trying again.

MachRc · 08-30-2012, 10:22 AM

well now we know !

scott0482 · 08-30-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by braymond141

Current laptops support SATA3 natively. I wouldn't assume NT has something too old... as far as I remember he's quite into the software side of technology.

For proper TRIM support the bios must be set to AHCI. IDE will kill off your SSD.

The indilinx controllers are too slow in my opinion. Whether or not the new drives have insane IOP's, they feel slower than the Agility/Vertex 3 series (which have finally been solid for awhile now). As buggy as the Sandforce controllers are... when the firmware is right, they are extremely fast. Maybe the indilinx will gain in speed, but I was not impressed with them... even in RAID 0 they were slow.

I killed an SSD by using it in a Dell Latitude D620. Even though the chipset supports AHCI, they removed it from the bios..

JonJon · 08-30-2012, 10:50 AM

This thread reminded my how much you fall off hardware knowledge by entering management.

Lol

accolade · 08-30-2012, 10:52 AM

I have to ask, from the first time you posted I've always thought your name was a reference to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NT_loader

Was I right?

Nt_loader · 08-30-2012, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonJon

This thread reminded my how much you fall off hardware knowledge by entering management.

Lol

Yea tell me about, I havent been hands on in MANY years. All I know how to do is build teams and motivate/empower people to get the job done.

Nt_loader · 08-30-2012, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by accolade

I have to ask, from the first time you posted I've always thought your name was a reference to this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NT_loader

Was I right?

Definately

08-29-2012, 06:36 PM	#1
Nt_loader ASA NO MO Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,318 My Ride: 2010 335i View My Garage	IT Guys - Need to upgrade a hard drive I have a laptop with a 64gb hard drive, as you can imagine I have very little room left. I purchased a 128gb SSD the other day with the intent to install it tomorrow. What is the most simple way for me to transfer everything over? I know I can use the windows profile transfer but im not sure if that will move programs. I looked at a few cloning programs but im not sure if they will work with different drive sizes. Im open to suggestions and recommendations, what is your method for replacing/upgrading hard drives?

08-29-2012, 08:02 PM	#5
Zell Wears carbon fiber boxers Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: In a van down by the river Posts: 3,694 My Ride: 330Ci ZHP 6sp View My Garage	Winclone. It's an amazing tool. I use it for backups all the time, but it also does drive cloning. It's extremely fast. I'm talking, high compression, 90GB worth of stuff backed up wirelessly to my server in 1.5 hours. http://twocanoes.com/winclone/ __________________ E46Fanatic's resident mathemagician

08-29-2012, 08:08 PM	#6
scott0482 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 666 My Ride: 2002 330i MTech1 View My Garage	You also have to (probably should) align the SSD if you clone it from a standard hard drive.. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...alignment.html __________________

08-29-2012, 08:28 PM	#8
MachRc "Have some candy!!" Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: City of Angels Posts: 6,205 My Ride: 2003 Technik S1 M3 View My Garage	you will be disappointed with realizing sata2's sub 300mb read and write compared to sata3's 500-600mb read and write. BUt it wont matter because it will still be blazing fast. HDclone or you can go oldschool like norton ghost. you might not have to ahci since the laptop prob doesn't support sata3 but i guess I would do it anyways even though there are very little gains over regular ide. just picked up third vertex4 240)something) 120 wasnt cutting it. __________________ Bimmerfest 2013 Photos here!!! "The road was miles ahead..It fell away, now I'm at thee end... Just a sky, the fall, and you..I got holes in my para~chute...... Then-you-say,' never gonna find all the answers~ answers will find you..Don't know how I'll feel tomorrow~ Don't know the truth. But we can lie,.. lie.., lie.., lie here together..lie..,lie..,lie..,lie here together..'"

08-29-2012, 08:52 PM	#12
Green_Shine Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Posts: 373 My Ride: Back seat riding View My Garage	Reinstall windows and then robocopy __________________

08-29-2012, 07:30 PM	#2
braymond141 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oakhurst, Ca Posts: 1,564 My Ride: 96 M3, 99 M3, 05 M3 View My Garage	HDClone is excellent, simple, and fast. http://www.miray.de/products/sat.hdclone.html I hope you're not using XP with that solid state though.

08-29-2012, 07:48 PM	#3
mcygan67 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 5 My Ride: E46 318i N42 Auto View My Garage	If you are using Windows and has been for a few years, it may be worth while to do a fresh install as the Windows' registry would, by now, be really messy and you will find a fresh install will improve performance.

08-29-2012, 08:41 PM	#10
Nt_loader ASA NO MO Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,318 My Ride: 2010 335i View My Garage	Ok I forgot to mention the hard drive is encypted with truecrypt, I wonder if I will need to un-install it before make a clone of it.

08-30-2012, 09:35 AM	#13
Nt_loader ASA NO MO Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,318 My Ride: 2010 335i View My Garage	Thanks for all the suggestions, here is what I am doing. Purchased a Micro Sata SSD to USB connector from Fry's first thing this morning. I am using HD Clone to copy over the smaller hard drive to the new drive, I didnt remove the encryption as a test to see if it will actually work. I will post back the results when im done

08-30-2012, 10:21 AM	#14
Nt_loader ASA NO MO Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,318 My Ride: 2010 335i View My Garage	Well that didnt work, removing the encryption now and trying again. Last edited by Nt_loader; 08-30-2012 at 10:30 AM.

08-30-2012, 10:22 AM	#15
MachRc "Have some candy!!" Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: City of Angels Posts: 6,205 My Ride: 2003 Technik S1 M3 View My Garage	well now we know ! __________________ Bimmerfest 2013 Photos here!!! "The road was miles ahead..It fell away, now I'm at thee end... Just a sky, the fall, and you..I got holes in my para~chute...... Then-you-say,' never gonna find all the answers~ answers will find you..Don't know how I'll feel tomorrow~ Don't know the truth. But we can lie,.. lie.., lie.., lie here together..lie..,lie..,lie..,lie here together..'"

08-30-2012, 10:50 AM	#17
JonJon Tinfoilhatatarian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: One of the most evil states ever to exist Posts: 3,373 My Ride: . View My Garage	This thread reminded my how much you fall off hardware knowledge by entering management. Lol __________________ Malo periculosam libertatem quam quietum servitium

08-30-2012, 10:52 AM	#18
accolade Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: LI Posts: 201 My Ride: O\|\|\|\|\|\|O View My Garage	I have to ask, from the first time you posted I've always thought your name was a reference to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NT_loader Was I right?

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